Program Description

The School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration offers a Master of Arts in Law Enforcement and Justice Administration. The law enforcement and justice administration (LEJA) graduate program is internationally known for academic excellence. It provides students with a rich blend of theoretical, administrative, and practical knowledge as well as with research skills. Those who have earned the degree occupy positions of responsibility across the United States and in several foreign countries.

The program is designed to provide a balanced, interdisciplinary course of study for those currently employed in criminal justice and related fields, as well as for those wishing to pursue careers in these fields of academia. Courses provide students with current information in the areas of administrative/organizational behavior; law; research and quantitative skills; and specialized areas such as policing, corrections, security, and multiculturalism/diversity in criminal justice.

Graduates of the program are educationally well-rounded students who possess the skills needed to manage and lead in the increasingly complex field of criminal justice. Additionally, students are academically prepared to pursue advanced degrees in respected doctoral programs.

Admission Requirements

All students must meet the general admission requirements of the School of Graduate Studies and have a cumulative grade point average for all undergraduate work of at least 3.0, or have a 3.0 GPA or higher for the last two years of undergraduate work. Waiver of GPA requirement may be requested if demonstrated subsequent training and work experience justify a waiver. Undergraduate work should include 18 semester hours in criminal justice, law enforcement, or closely related areas. Students may not enroll in LEJA graduate courses unless admitted to the LEJA degree program or unless they receive special permission from the LEJA graduate coordinator or department chair. Undergraduate courses in statistics or research methods are required or waived.

Only those files completed with all required documents listed below will be forwarded to the departmental graduate committee for consideration for admission into the program. All documents should be sent to (and any contact regarding status of receipt of those documents should be directed to) the School of Graduate Studies.

Application to the School of Graduate Studies

Official GRE or MAT scores (five years old or less)

Three letters of reference (which may also be used for graduate assistantship application, if applicable)

LEJA 600 Thesis Research (3) LEJA 601 Thesis (3)Electives in one of the following departments (12):

educational administration, law enforcement and justice administration, management sciences, political science, psychology, or sociology; or in any other department with approval of the LEJA Graduate Committee and Chair. Courses should be geared toward career objectives.

A final oral presentation and defense of the thesis.Thesis proposal must be approved before research is undertaken.

TOTAL PROGRAM: 33 s.h.

B. Non‑Thesis: 24 s.h.

Electives in one of the following departments (21)*

educational leadership, law enforcement and justice administration, management sciences, political science, psychology, or sociology; or in any other department with approval of the LEJA Graduate Committee and Chair. Courses should be geared toward career objectives.

* No more than 12 s.h. of electives may come from departments outside of LEJA.

TOTAL PROGRAM: 39 s.h.

In either option, no more than 9 semester hours of 400G level courses will be counted toward fulfillment of the degree requirements without permission of the LEJA Graduate Committee.

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program

The School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration offers a post-baccalaureate certificate in Police Executive Administration. For program details, go to the post-baccalaureate certificates page.

Course Descriptions

Law Enforcement and Justice Administration (LEJA)

500 Advanced Quantitative Techniques in Criminal Justice. (3) A consideration of advanced statistical methods and computer techniques that are applicable to criminal justice. Particular attention will be given to multivariate analysis. Prerequisite: LEJA 303 or equivalent undergraduate statistics course, or permission of the instructor/School Director.

501 Theory in Criminal Justice. (3) Analysis and comparison of various theories and models, with emphasis on the understanding of theoretical principles as they influence issues in criminal justice.

502 Management Issues in Law Enforcement Administration. (3) Focus on the law enforcement agency from the standpoint of top and middle management, including (but not limited to) labor relations, personnel management, fiscal administration, and the integration of internal and external operations. Prerequisite: LEJA 501 or permission of the instructor/department chair.

503 Research Methodology in Criminal Justice. (3) Critical examination of current research in criminal justice with regard to methodological adequacy, significance and importance; problems in the design and execution of criminal justice research. Prerequisite: An undergraduate course in statistics or methods, or permission of the instructor/School Director.

504 Civil and Criminal Liability. (3) The study of law enforcement and justice administration policy and practice as impacted by principles of civil and criminal responsibility. Prerequisite: Six hours of undergraduate law courses or permission of the instructor/School Director.

505 Independent Study. (1–3, repeatable to 6 under different topics) Special topics selected in consultation with a member of the graduate faculty. Prerequisites: Twelve graduate credits and permission of the instructor/School Director.

506 Police: Theory and Practice. (3) An examination of theoretical and philosophical bases of the police and the ways in which theory and philosophy are translated into practice. Analysis of problems arising as a result of the translation, theory and/or philosophy. Prerequisite: LEJA 501 or permission of the instructor/School Director.

507 Courts: Theory and Practice. (3) An in‑depth examination of current and key issues in courts, with emphasis on those which affect adjudicatory administration. Prerequisite: LEJA 501 or permission of the instructor/School Director.

508 Corrections: Theory and Practice. (3) Course focuses on major administrative, inmate, and societal issues. Examines historical, philosophical, and legal issues related to corrections. The course discusses correctional objectives and principles in the context of prevailing practices. Prerequisite: LEJA 501 or permission of the instructor/School Director.

510 Public Personnel Law. (3) The study of the law and policy of public sector collective bargaining, employment discrimination and employee/employer rights and responsibilities within a criminal justice context. Prerequisite: LEJA 501 or permission of the instructor/School Director.

511 Diversity and the Police. (3) This course examines the nature and extent of alienation and isolation of police personnel from minority citizens they are to serve. Human relations are discussed as the basis for successful community relations programs with special emphasis on encounters between police officers and members of racial and ethnic minority groups, the history of police minority relations, and the difficulties and consequences of attracting and hiring minority police officers.

512 Ethics in Criminal Justice. (3) This course focuses on a variety of ethical/moral issues confronting criminal justice practitioners. Ethical choices, their consequences, and the relationships among law, morality, and ethics are discussed. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor/School Director.

514 Executive Management Seminar. (3) The Executive Management Seminar is designed to meet the needs and challenges of top level law enforcement personnel. Topics of instruction include a variety of traditional management subjects as they relate to the management of law enforcement agencies. Subjects include, but are not limited to: Future of Policing, News Media Relations, Administrative Law Update, Leadership, TQM, Negotiating Skills, Problem Employees, Performance Evaluations, Community Policing, Gang Control. Prerequisite: Prior management courses or relevant experience, or permission of the instructor/School Director.

517 International Studies in Criminal Justice. (3–6, repeatable to 9) Integrates the study of international Criminal Justice with student international travel to countries selected for the course. Focuses on preparing students for global environment of the 21st century by providing first-hand knowledge of different cultures. Requires substantial written comparative analysis of criminal justice systems and cultures based on the first-hand experiences of the student in the country, required readings, and class meetings.

518 Comprehensive Seminar in Law Enforcement and Justice Administration. (3) A capstone course (part of the non-thesis 39 semester hour option) intended to reinforce the analysis and comparison of various theories and models as they pertain to criminal justice issues in a dynamic society. Emphasis is on critical examination of current trends and research in criminal justice as well as design and implementation of criminal justice research. The course is developed to meet the needs and challenges of criminal justice administrators. Prerequisites: LEJA 500, 501, 502, 503, and 504 (must have all core courses completed), or by permission of the LEJA Graduate Coordinator or School Director.

598 Seminar in Social and Legal Problems. (3, repeatable to 9 with different topics) Current topics in criminal justice. Prerequisite: Nine graduate credits or permission of the instructor.

600 Thesis Research. (3)Prerequisites: LEJA 500, 501, 502, 503, and 504 (must have all core courses completed), or by permission of the LEJA Graduate Coordinator or School Director.

601 Thesis. (3)Prerequisites: LEJA 500, 501, 502, 503, and 504 (must have all courses completed), or by permission of the LEJA Graduate Coordinator or School Director.